Antique war vehicle scares neighbors during fireworks in Shelby Township

By From Staff Reports

Friday, July 5, 2013

A 26-year military veteran face multiple felony charges after driving an antique World War II-era armor-plated vehicle with a replica 50-caliber machine gun mounted through residential streets, Thursday night, and firing blanks.

John Henry Lind, who police said is in his mid-40s, is being held on $100,000 interim bond pending the issuance of formal charges, police said.

Shelby Township Police Chief Roland Woelkers said that Lind and two of his friends were celebrating the Fourth of July holiday when their actions “got out of hand.”

“It was a stupid act,” said Woelkers. “There’s a lot of serious consequences.”

Woelkers said that Lind is an honorably discharged veteran who served in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. He occasionally participates in reenactments and he and his vehicle are known to many township residents. But many were unaware that the weapon was a replica and harmless.

“You can imagine what they were thinking,” Woelkers said.

Woelkers said that prosecutors will determine what charges Lind will face. Lind was tested alcohol and while traces were found in his system, he was far below the legal limit for intoxication.

“We’re trying to plough through the law books to see what he could possibly be charged with,” said Woelkers.

Woelkers also said Lind cooperated with police when arrested and is remorseful about his actions.

“He’s very sorry it happened,” the chief said.

According to police, the bizarre incident occurred about 11 p.m. Thursday as July 4 fireworks displays wound down.

Township police received multiple calls from residents who reported a man was driving a military vehicle and firing an automatic weapon at crowds of people in the vicinity of Erma Street on the township’s southwest side, police said.

Police scrambled to respond, requesting assistance from Sterling Heights and Utica departments, both of whom send multiple officers to the scene.

When officers arrived, they discovered nobody was injured and they quickly located the vehicle, which turned out to be an antique vehicle. The replica machine gun had been modified to fire compressed gas and emit a bright flash and loud realistic gunfire sounds.